There’s a new live music event preparing to debut at Shadowland Pavilion August 20. The Lake Breeze Music Festival draws on the experience and legacy of a couple of successful past concert series and hopes to create another ‘destination event’ for St. Joseph’s annual Summer calendar.
Local promoters Jerry Price and Bryan Joseph have been the team behind the Community Concert series in conjunction with the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores. The PGA-week music events at Benton Harbor’s Dwight P. Mitchell Park downtown have drawn increasing crowds, culminating in about 5,000 attending this year’s concert, featuring Jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright and R & B/Pop vocalist Stephanie Mills.
Price and Joseph are applying the musical recipe of the PGA Community Concerts to their planned Lake Breeze Music Festival at Silver Beach’s Shadowland Pavilion—where another successful concert series, ‘Smooth Jazz at Sunset, ran from 2003 to 2019 in tandem with the Krasl Art Fair every July.
The inaugural LBMF will be headlined by nationally recognized Smooth Jazz saxophonist Tim Cunningham, with three special guest artists in supporting act roles. The Andrew Fisher Quartet is a locally based group highlighting vocalist Andrew Fisher. Carmen Stokes is a Chicago pianist and protégé of piano great Ramsey Lewis. Meagan McNeal, a Chicago singer, was on NBC’s The Voice’ in 2017 and is said to remind fans of Chaka Kahn and Aretha Franklin with her strong vocal stylings.
Price and Joseph are excited about the new music event and what it could mean to Michigan’s Great Southwest every Summer going forward. They see it as another potential ‘destination event’ for St. Joseph, added to the Krasl Art Fair in July and Chalk the Block Weekend in August.
Price says, “It’s about showing off Southwest Michigan as a wonderful place to live, work and play. You listen to World Class Music in an atmosphere that makes you want to come back again, or just stay here!’ He says music brings people together, celebrates diversity and invites people to make this their hometown.
There’s evidence following the pandemic that Price is correct, as people who can now ‘work from anywhere’ are choosing to move to Southwest Michigan from larger urban areas like Chicago. There’s proof of it everyday on social media as new residents seek guidance about life in their new home, Southwest Michigan.
The Lake Breeze Music Festival offers both Reserved Chair and General Admission Lawn Seating. 500 pre-set chair seats are available for $35 each. ‘Bring Your Own Lawnchair’ General Admission seating is $25.
Gates will open at 5:00 pm Saturday, August 20.
Music starts at 6:00 pm with Andrew Fisher Quartet, Carmen Stockes 7:00 pm, Meagan McNeal 8:00 pm, and headliner Tim Cunningham 9:20 pm.
Food trucks will be present onsite and plans are being made to sell beverages from local breweries and wineries.
Learn more and purchase tickets at www.LakeBreezeMusicFestival.com
The Artists & Line-Up
The Andrew Fisher Quartet (6:00pm -6:45pm)-is a neo-soul jazz group from Michigan. They specialize in bending traditional genres such as soul, funk, R&B, Motown and more while using the language of improvisation and jazz. Since being formed in 2015, AFQ showcases their unique takes on well known songs and catalogs and now currently are performing their original music with the release of their EP in 2019.
Carmen Stokes (7:00pm – 7:45pm)- An Indiana girl arriving on the Chicago scene in the 1990’s debut album, Sexy Feelin. Carmen Stokes established herself as an in-demand artist in the Chicago area, her soulful and sultry sounds builds on the legends of jazz, including her musical mentor Mr. Ramsey Lewis.
Meagan McNeal (8:00pm – 9:00pm)- is a powerhouse singer/songwriter and recording artist from Chicago. Well-versed in the genres of soul, jazz, and R&B she is known for her diverse range and soulful voice. Meagan graced the stage of NBC’s “The Voice” in 2017 and has been soring ever since. Influenced by groundbreaking artists such as Anita Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Chaka Khan, and Aretha Franklin-Meagan is truly a voice to hear!
Tim Cunningham ( 9:20- 10:30pm)-For decades the words “smooth , sultry, cool & funky” have been used to describe Tim’s high energy and emotional stage show as his sexy blend of smooth jazz and soulful R&B connects with people of all ages, races and genres of music. This unique and versatile style has earned Tim the pleasure of opening for such jazz greats as Dave Koz, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson and George Benson. On the flip side, his bumpin’ R&B flavor has on occasion paired him with Earth Wind & Fire, Cameo, Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, Frankie Beverly, Jeffrey Osborne, and the late Luther Vandross.
Promoters Bryan Joseph and Jerry Price have been active in the local community for many years. Joseph is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Michigan Pizza Hut. Price is with Spectrum Health Lakeland, serving as Specialist Talent Program Lead—Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
